Snow-proof coupling for shoes and leggings.



PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

E. L. PARKMAN. SNOW PROOF COUPLING FOR SHOES AND LEGGINGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 1902.

j) Invert???) 71' UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed April 25, 1902- Serial No. 104,621.

To all whom, it 7nd concern.-

. Be it known that I, ERNEST L. PARKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Albans, in the county of Somerset and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow-Proof Couplings for Shoes and Leggings; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings herewith the same letters are used to designate the same parts in all the different views.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a shoe and legging in position for coupling together by the means described. Fig. 2 shows a shoe in top View, having the top fitted for coupling as described. Fig. 3 is a legging adapted at the bottom to fit into the gutter around the ankle of shoe and be fastened therein. Fig. 4 shows a side view of a legging and shoe as worn upon the foot or fastened thereon coupled as described. Fig. 5 shows a manner of attaching a short legging to a stocking, so as to be worn coupled with a shoe to make a snow-proof joint as described. Fig. 6 shows a side view of one side of the inner wall of a coupling at top of shoe with the means thereon of fastening the bottom of the legging to same, also the folding gore used under the foot-opening of the inner wall at the front.

The purpose of my invention is to supply a shoe or overshoe, of rubber or other material, with which a legging of leather or any other material can be used when desired, so that the two when coupled together are joined in a manner that excludes the cold air and is also snow-proof and waterproof, for that matter, unless the boot is immersed in water above the top of the coupling. The two parts when coupled together in the manner described constitute what is practically a boot. At same time the shoe or overshoe can be used in the ordinary manner Without the legging, if desired, without any inconvenience izesulting from its being arranged for the couping.

The invention will be specially useful to lumbermen and all those that work in the Snow in the winter season in that it will prevent the snow from getting inside the shoe or quarter of the shoe is formed, so as to provide a gutter around the ankle at the top of the shoe or overshoe of sufiicient depth between its inner and outer walls to receive therein a sufficient portion of the lower extremity of thelegging used therewith to have said outer and inner walls lap over the same to a reasonable height to make a secure joint, the 'outer wall or flap being taller than the inner one, said gutter being of waterproof material between said two walls and having its bottom highest at the center point of the back of the leg and from thence descending in a straight course on either side of the ankle until the two ends of the gutter meet at the center of the front of the shoe at a point lower than the bottom of the gore in inner wall left to allow insertion of the foot. All the features of this arrangement are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A being the shoe; O C, the outer wall of the quarter or ankle portion; D, the inner wall of same; E E, the gutter between said walls, running around the ankle and descending from back to front to debouch upon the front of the shoe below the gore in inner wall. The descending course of the gutter on either side of the ankle is of prime importance, as it serves the useful purpose of allowing any water that may run down around the legging into the gutter to be carried by gravitation down the gutter and out at the front of the shoe. This prevents the water from gathering in the joint and overflowing into the shoe. The outer wall being taller than the inner wall binds the legging more securely in the joint by lapping over the top of the inner one. This part of the shoe or overshoe may be conveniently constructed by attaching to a shoe of ordinary construction around the ankle portion of an overlying outer flap or wall the bottom of which is securely attached to the shoe along the line E, Figs. 1, 2, and 4:, or the gutter may be formed, if desired, by leaving separate the inner and outer parts of a single ankle portion when the shoe is made to the required depth and forming its bottom along the descending line, as described.

In applying this invention I use a folding gore attached to the sides of the front slit in the inner wall, which permits the insertion of the foot to the shoe, (see F, Figs. 2 and 6,) because said folding gore-piece closes the slit against the entrance of snow and water to the foot, and is therefore more secure than a slit not so protected. The inner wall D of the channel has its forward end provided with a gore-pieco which is crimped. so as to permit of the insertion of the foot. This gore-piece is, as shown in Fig. 2, of approximately triangular contour and has its lower end arranged above the lower end of the slit in the shoe. By this construction the inner wall of the channel is not cut away at its lower portion, and any water gaining access into the channel will be permitted to pass through the lower portions of the front wall in the shoe, which, as stated, is in line with the lowest point of the channel.

The bottom of the logging to be used with the coupling-joint described is formed, as shown in Fig. 3, with its bottom line descending somewhat from back to front and somewhat enlarged at the front to better fit the shape of the top of the shoe, as shown in G, Fig.3. I also attach to each side of the bottom portion of the legging sockets or hooks, (see J J, Fig. 3,) which are adapted to be connected with corresponding studs or loops attached to the side of the inner wall of the gutter, as shown by K K, Fig. 6, and serve as fasteners to hold the bottom part of the legging in place inside the gutter. I do this as a precaution, although in practice no fastenings inside the gutter are necessary, the parts being held in place sufficiently for all ordinary use by the drawing of the outer wall around over the legging in fastening it at the instep by buckles or lacing the two ends together in the usual manner. (See Fig. i.)

In use the legging is drawn on over the foot. Then the shoe is drawn on. The bottom of the legging is placed in the gutter of the ankle portion of the shoe or overshoe and secured by fasteners therein, if .desired. Then the front edges or the outer wall of the shoe-ankle are brought together over the instep, the same being adapted to draw the top of the quarter closely around the ankle over the legchange the principle of the invention at all and is merely a convenience as aiding to insert the lower extremity of the logging into the channel around top of the shoe.

Having thus described my invention and its manner of use and the object to be gained by it, 1 set forth my claims as inventor therein as follows:

1. In combination with a shoe, a wall secured to the inner face of its ankle portion thereby forming a gutter, said wall extending downwardly from a point at the rear of the shoe in straight planes to a point adjacent the bottom of the slit in the shoe, said wall being provided at its forward end with a gore-piece of approximately triangular contour, said gore-piece being crimped and having its lower end arranged at a point above the lower end or bottom of the gutter and above the lower end of the slit in said shoe.

2. The combination with a shoe having a wall secured to the inner faces of its ankle portion thereby forming a gutter and extending downwardly from a point at the rear of the shoe in straight planes to a point adjacent the bottom of the slit in the shoe, and a crimped gore-piece of approximately triangular contour at the forward end of said wall, said gorepiece having its lower end arranged atapoint above the lower end or bottom of the gutter and above the lower end of the slit in said shoe, of a legging having its lower end shaped to correspond with the gutter in the shoe and adapted to be received and inclosed therein, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST L. PARKMAN. Witnesses:

J. VVILLIs CROSBY, Josm'u CROSBY. 

